Audio Equipment Racks
You may have a range of audio equipment sitting in your living room gathering dust. Often when I visit the houses of friends and family I see bits and pieces lying around. I'm horrified to see their carefully selected AV gear (which is often expensive) sitting on a random table or simply on the floor.
I think people are often excited by the prospect of purchasing a high-quality sound system which will add a new dimension to their home theater experience. |
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Once the Hi-Fi system is brought home, people don't know to do with it. It seems a strange thing that a lot of expense is put into the Hi-Fi gear but not much into audio equipment racks which house it.
These days, racking systems come in all shapes and sizes. The main construction materials are wood, metal and plastic. Traditionally, wood has been the material of choice and many elegant audio equipment racks are made of wood. One needs to consider the decor of the room and the overall design. I hard-wood audio equipment rack with a natural lacquered finish usually looks good in a room with other traditional timbre furniture.
Audio equipment racks with a metal finish are often of a modern, minimalist design. Again, the room design needs to be taken into account. Plastic racks are most flexible with designs mimicking traditional wood and more modern designs. It is important to select the rack which will flow with the decor, it is worth spending extra money on a rack which compliments the room. This saves having to replace a rack which isn't quite right.
The main audio equipment rack is the rack that the amplifier, CD/DVD player and radio are housed in or sit on top of. When buying one, take children into account. If you have a young family, you'll be aware that the kids will try to get at the AV gear. Your racking system will have to keep the gear protected or out of reach. Black is the universal color of choice and is a safe bet that it will still look good in the future. The natural wood finish is also another universal option.
Aside from the main audio equipment racks, the speakers may also need a stand or shelf. This is often the case with smaller rear channel speakers for surround sound. The main front speakers maybe floor standing or lifted off the ground. Wooden speaker stands add a richness to the tone which plastic stands do not. Consider this when making your selection, are you concerned about the added audio benefits of wood or more concerned about cost or decor compatibility.
The main point is to make your decisions about suitable audio equipment racks and run with it. Don't wait two years down the track while your expensive gear gathers dust. Take the room decor and design into account and select a rack which will match it. Also consider audio quality and the construction material of the rack. Wood is the optimum material for adding to the audio richness. Please avoid cheaply made racks which may rattle and vibrate detracting from the audio experience.
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